Monday 2 April 2018
Friday 30 March 2018
11 Ethiopian journalists, bloggers and activists rearrested
11 journalists, bloggers and activists were arrested by Ethiopian
security forces on 25th March 2018, including recently released political
prisoners.
Those arrested include journalists Eskinder Nega and
Temesgen Desalegn, Zone9 bloggers Mahlet Fantahun, Befekadu Hailu, blogger
Zelalem Workaggnhu and political activists Andualem Arage, Addisu Getinet,
Yidnekachewu Addis, Sintayehu Chekol, Tefera Tesfaye and Woynshet Molla.
The arrests follow the declaration of a national state of
emergency on 16th February by the Cabinet for a period of six months, after
Prime Minister and Chairman of the country's ruling coalition Hailemariam
Desalegn unexpectedly resigned.
All journalists and activists detained on March 25, are held
in a small, 3 by 8 meter room along with other 40 inmates. There are over 40
prisoners in a single room, unable to sleep properly. All of them have been
spending sleepless nights because there isn’t enough space to sleep, a serious
sanitation problem like unventilated room, filthy toilet which is very
disturbing even for the visitors let alone the prisoners.
These prisoners have been told by the commander of the
police station that the Command Post is the one who detained them and it is up
to it to release them.
The New EPRDF Chairman Must Respond Positively to the People’s Demand
Patriotic Ginbot 7 Statment
The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front
(EPRDF) government has finally elected Dr. Abiy Ahmed as its new party Chairman
to replace the outgoing Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. While Dr. Abiy’s
election answers the question of who will replace Hailemariam, it also raises
two other important questions: whether the replacement represents the usual
trickery from the TPLF playbook, or is it a genuine effort by reformists within
the regime to address the demands of the Ethiopian people? We will soon learn
the answers to these questions.
In the last three years, there has been an internal struggle
within the EPRDF between those who are bent on maintaining the status quo and
those who want to upend the political system in response to the people’s demand
for fundamental change. If Dr. Abiy’s ascendancy to the premiership represents
a triumph for the reformist wing within EPRDF to bring about fundamental
changes to peacefully transition Ethiopia from dictatorship to democracy,
Patriotic Ginbot 7 (PG 7) will view it as a step in the right direction.
It’s no secret that Dr. Abiy’s election comes at a critical
time in Ethiopian history. Currently, the country is engulfed by massive
protests with people demanding freedom, justice, and respect for fundamental
human rights, civil liberties and inclusive governance. In this process,
enormous sacrifice has been paid by the Ethiopian people through thousands
innocent lives lost and too much bloodshed, agony, and anguish. After all these
sacrifices, it must be understood by all that the quest for real change towards
a genuine democratic political order shall remain a non-negotiable factor. Any
agent of change that does not address this fundamental truth will invite the
people’s wrath upon himself.
As the elected chairman of EPRDF, it’s a foregone conclusion
that Dr. Abiy will be sworn in as the next Prime Minister. If his premiership
is to mean the triumph of reform within EPRDF, it’s imperative to set the right
agenda for change and take the following concrete measures starting on day one:
-Release our comrade Andargachew Tsege and all political
prisoners throughout the country without any pre-conditions;
-Revoke immediately the illegal and draconian State of
Emergency and lift all restrictions on fundamental human rights and civil
liberties;
-Stop the killing of civilians and restructure the security
forces that have been committing the killings with impunity;
-Communicate a clear roadmap to convene a national
conference of all stakeholders to discuss about the future all-inclusive
transitional arrangement.
While applauding the initial success of the reformist group,
we are also cognizant of the fact that there are still powerful elements within
EPRDF that are not happy with the result of the election and we expect them to
use the deep state within their control
to stall and frustrate change. It’s necessary to keep an eye and stand
guard against any such potential sabotage.
Since its inception, Patriotic Ginbot 7 has been operating
under a firm principle of working collaboratively with change agents from any
quarter as long as genuine democracy is their end game. At the same time, until
the transition from dictatorship to democracy becomes a reality, we urge the
Ethiopian people who have paid immense sacrifice to continue their determined
and just struggle for freedom, justice, and democracy until victory.
Justice, liberty, and Unity for the people of Ethiopia!
Thursday 29 March 2018
Joint civil society letter to Ethiopian Prime Minister-designate on recent arrests of journalists and human rights defenders
Prime Minister-Designate, Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali
Cc: Abadula Gemeda, Speaker of the House of Peoples’
Representative
29 March 2018
Your Excellencies,
The undersigned international, regional and national human
rights and development organisations write to express our grave concern over
the recent arrest of 11 Ethiopian journalists, bloggers and political
opposition leaders amid a new crackdown on fundamental freedoms. Such measures
undermine the Ethiopian government’s international human rights obligations as
well as recent political commitments to initiate an era of widespread
democratic political reform. As you assume your position as Prime Minister, we
urge the Ethiopian Government to immediately and unconditionally release all
human rights defenders, political activists and journalists, including the 11
individuals detained this week.
On 25 March 2018, Ethiopian police and security forces
arrested journalists Eskinder Nega and Temesgen Desalegn, Zone9 bloggers Mahlet
Fantahun, Befekadu Hailu, blogger Zelalem Workaggnhu and political activists
Andualem Arage, Addisu Getinet, Yidnekachewu Addis, Sintayehu Chekol, Tefera
Tesfaye and Woynshet Molla.
The arrests were carried out while the defenders were
attending a private meeting in Addis Ababa at the home of journalist Temesgen
Desalegn. The private gathering was held in recognition of the recent release
of thousands of political prisoners amidst ongoing and widespread protests
against political marginalisation and land grabbing in the Oromia and Amhara
regions which began in late 2015. The eleven are currently being held at
Gotera-Pepsi Police Station in Addis Ababa.
Days earlier on 8 March, authorities arrested Seyoum
Teshome, a prominent blogger and university lecturer. Teshome, who is a
frequent contributor to Ethiothinkthank.com and was detained for three months
under the previous State of Emergency, is currently being held in the notorious
Maekelawi Prison in Addis Ababa.
While the authorities have not publicly indicated if charges
will be brought against the defenders, under the February reinstatement of the
national State of Emergency, groups and individuals must seek permission from
the Command Post to host public gatherings.
Prior to their release in February, several of the defenders
had previously been imprisoned for periods ranging from two to seven years in
relation to their legitimate work as journalists, bloggers and political
activists. Eskinder Nega and the Zone9 Bloggers are recipients of international
awards celebrating their contribution to independent journalism and human
rights.
The arrests follow the declaration of a national State of
Emergency on 16 February by the Cabinet for a period of six months. The State
of Emergency includes a number of draconian and overbroad provisions. Among
other worrying violations of fundamental democratic freedoms, the State of
Emergency imposes a blanket ban on all protests, the dissemination of any publication
deemed to “incite and sow discord” including those who criticise the State of
Emergency and allows for warrantless arrest.
Such measures are contrary to international human rights law
and the Ethiopian Constitution and are counter-productive to peace and
security. The invocation of the State of Emergency criminalises dissent and
persecutes human rights defenders, protesters and journalists.
We urge the government of Ethiopia to: (i) immediately
release all human rights defenders, political opponents and journalists
detained for exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of expression,
association and assembly; (ii) end all forms of harassment against journalists
and all citizens with critical views on national matters and; (iii) review and amend
the State of Emergency to ensure that any limitations on fundamental rights are
in line with international human rights obligations.
Sincerely,
Access Now
African Law Foundation (Nigeria)
ARTICLE 19
Asia Democracy Network (ADN)
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Asian Legal Resource Center (ALRC)
Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE)
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
The Article 20 Network
Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN)
Bytes4All Pakistan
Caucasus Civil Initiatives Center
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Commonwealth Human Right Initiative (CHRI)
DefendDefenders (East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders
Project)
End Impunity
Endorois Welfare Council (Kenya)
Ethiopia Human Rights Project (EHRP)
Freedom House
Front Line Defenders
Karapatan (Philippines)
Global Participe (Republic of the Congo)
Greenpeace Africa
International Civil Society Centre
International Service for Human Rights
JOINT – Ligas de ONGs em Mocambique (Mozambique)
Odhikar (Bangladesh)
OutRight Action International
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum
PEN International
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
Sengwer Indigenous Peoples Programme
Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF)
West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)
West African Human Rights Defenders’ Network (WAHRDN)
World Movement for Democracy
World Organization Against Torture
Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA)
Wednesday 28 March 2018
á á˛áą á¨á˘á á á´á á/ááá á á¨á˘áľáŽáľáŤá á áἠáĽáŤá á á°ááŁá ááááľ á áá áľ!- á áá áá˝ áááŚáľ 7
á áś
á/ááŞáŤá á°áłáá á¨áĽááŁá áááá፠áĽáŤá áŤáá¨áĄ á¨á áᣠáá á áá áĽá á ááááŞáŤ á¨á˘á
á á´á áľáŤ á áľááťá áŽáá´ ááĽá áááľ ááĽáá ááá á¤áą á¨á ááľ áłáááľ á áá á¨áá áľáĽá°áŁ á¨á°ááá á áá áś/á á á˘á á á
ááľá á¨áááŁáŠ á/áááá á á áľáá ááá§á። á¨áś/á á á˘á á¨á˘á
á á´á á/ááá á áá ááá¨áĽ á¨áááĽáá á¨á˘áľáŽáľáŤ á /áááľáľá áá ááá áá˝áá á áá á á áľáŠáŽáľ á˛á á á
ááá á¨á áĽáŤá á¨ááááŞáŤ áá ááá˝ á°áĽáˇá። áááá á¨áś/á á áĽá ááá¨áĽ á¨á°ááá°á á¨ááŤá á¨á´áŤ á áŤááľ áá¤áľ áá? áááľ á˘á
á á´á á¨á
ááĽá áĽááá°á á¨ááἠááááľ á°ááś ááááąá áááľá°áŤá¨á á¨áá°á°á áááá áá? á¨á˘á
á á´á ááłá áĽááá
á áĽáŤááá˝ áŤá ááá áĽáá
ááááľ á°áŤááśá áľ á¨á°áá°á ááááá áŤááááá á á
áᥠá¨ááá°ááá á á°ááŁáá á¨ááá¨á áááá።
á¨áś/á á áĽá ááá¨áĽ á˘á
á á´á ááľáĽ áŤááľ áĽáľáŤáá á¨á
áááľ áá ááá á˛áŤáááá á¨áá áŠáľ áľáá
áśá˝á á á
áááľ ááľáĽá áŤá á ááłááľ ááἠááááá˝ á á፠á á¸ááá á¨ááá áĽá áś/á á áĽá á á°áá á áŚá
á´áľ ááá á¤áľ áľáĽá°áŁ ááá፠áá áŤááĄáľá ááἠááá á á
áŁáŤ á°ááŁáŤá áááľá¨á ááľáá á¨áá áĽá°á¨á áá። á¨á˘á
á á´á ááłá á á ááŤá˝á á á˘áľáŽáľáŤ áá á¨á°á°áááá á¨áá°á á á°á ááá¨áá¨á፥ á˝ááŠá á á°ááá ááááľ ááááłáľá áĽáá áá° áĽááá°á á´áááŤá˛áŤá áľáááľ ááá¸ááá á¨ááŤáľá˝á áĽáá
áľáá´ ááľáĽ á¨ááᣠá¨áá ááἠáááá á
áἠáá á¨ááááá ááá á á áááłá ááአá¨ááááľá°á áá።
áś/á á á˘á á á
ááľ á¨á˘á
á á´á á/ááá á ááá á¨á°áá¨áĄáľ á˘áľáŽáľáŤ á á¨áá°á á¨ááἠááá á á ááľááĽá áľá ááĽá´á ááťáá´ áá¨á á áĽá á¨ááŽá
á
áἠá á¨á á°áŁáŁáŠ á ááá°áá áľ áá
áľ áľááá á¨áś/á á á˘á á°ááłáá áá áá áááááśá˝ ááľáĽ á ááą á˘áľáŽáľáŤ á á áá áá ááľáĽ á¨á°á¨ááá˝ á áá áĽááľáľáá ááľá¨áá á¨á
ááĽá á¨ááĽáľ፥ á¨ááľá
á á¨ááťááľ áĽáŤááá˝ ááááľ ááá á áá áľ áĽá á áá áá˝ áááŚáľ á°áŁáľ á áĽáĽá
áŤááá።
áŁáááľ
áááľá áŚáľáľ á ááłáľ á˘á
á á´á ááľáĽ á ááἠáááá “áŤáá áá ááá” á áá áááá˝ ááŤá¨á á¨áá°á ááľá -ááᲠáľáá á˛áŤááľ áĽáá°áᨠááá˝áá áľáá°áá á¨áᨠááłá áá። á¨áś/á á á˘á ááá¨áĽ áá
á áááą áááá˝ ááŤá¨á á¨á°áŤáá°á áľáá á ááἠááá áááá˝ áľá áá°áá°áá á¨ááŤááááľ á¨áá á˘áľáŽáľáŤ ááľáĽ ááá á áá á¨á˝ááá áá°áľ ááᣠá¨áá˝áá áľ áááł áááŠá áŤááááłáá á áá°áľ á¨ááłá áááŤá á ááá፠áá። á áá á áŠá áá á¨áś/á á á˘á áá¸áá áĽáá°á°ááá°á á á
áááľ á áááŞááľ á¨á°ááŤá ááá˘á ááᲠá¨áá¨áá፠áá áááááľ á¨á°á°á¨á á´áŤ áá¤áľ á¨áá á¨á
áἠá°ááŤáŽá˝ áá á¨áá á¨á˘á
á á´á á áŁááľ á¨á
ááĽá áľáááá ááááľá áĽáŤá á áá¸á á áá°á¨áąá áááľ áá። á
áἠ“á á
áááľ ááááľ” ááĽá፤ á ááŁáááááľ ááĽá፤ á¨á
áἠááĽáľ áá¨á á፤ á
áᥠá áá¨á á ááááĽáľ áá°áłá°á áĽáŤá á¨á
áááľ ááľáááľááľ á áá¨ááá áľ áá
áľ á¨á
áἠá°ááŤáŽá˝ á¨á
áááľá áĽá
áá ááááľ áááłáŤáľ ááŻáŻáŁá¸á á¨á
áἠá ááľ áĽáá á¨á
áἠá°ááŤáŽá˝ ááŤá°áá¸á á áá˝áá።
á¨áá
áĽáá°á°á áá°á áś/á á á˘á á¨áááŁáŠ á/ááá á ááá á˛áá¨áĄ á¨á ááŞáąá á /áááľáľá ááá ááá¨áŁá¸áá á¨ááŤááááľ áľááá á ááŞáˇ áá´áľ ááá áĽááłááŁáľ á¨áá áá á á
áŁáŤ áľááŁáá á¨á°á¨á¨áĄ áĽááľ ááᎠá ááŤá°ááá¸á ááááŽá˝ áĽáť áłááá á á°ááŁá ááłá¨áľ á¨ááááŞáŤ áľáŤá¸á ááá á áá áľ። áá
á á
áŁáŤ á¨ááłá¨áľ áľáŤ áĽá áááŽá˝á á¨ááŤá ááá á˘ááá á¨áá
á¨áá¨á°ááľ áá ááááš áá˝á :-
-ááłá˝áá
á ááłááá¸á á˝áá á¨áᎠáááá á¨ááá˛áŤ áĽáľá¨áá˝፤ áŤáááá á
áľá áááł á á áľá¸áłá áááłáľ
-á
á-ááĄá á¨á áľá¸áłá áá á áá
áŤáááá á
áľá áááł áááłáľ
-á á
ááĽ
áá á¨ááá¸á ááľáŤáá˝á á á áľá¸áłá ááľááá ááá
áááá ááľáľá áĽáá˛áá á¨á ááŞáąá á¨á°á
áááľ á°ááá˝ áĽáá°áá á á á˛áľ ááá áááá
-á¨á áľá¸áłá
áá á áá áĽáá˛áłááą áŤá°á¨áá¸áá á áá á¨ááłáá á ááľá á˘áá á áášá á°á¨áĽá¨á á¨ááŤáááľá áá°áŤááľá፥áá°áĽá°áĽá፥ ááááá፥ ááłáĽá á ááťááľ áááá˝áá á¨á
á á¨á ááááľá á¨ááłá°á áá á¨áłá á¨á°á áá
ááĽáśá˝á áá á áá á°ááŁáŤá áĽáá˛áá ááľá¨á
-á˘áľáŽáľáŤá
áá° áľáááá á˛áááŤá˛áŤá áľáá áľ ááá°áľ á¨áá˝á ááá á áá ááááľá á¨á˝ááá áá°áľ á á áľá¸áłá ááľááá፥
á¨á˘á
á á´á ááá á¤áľ áľáĽá°áŁ ááłá á¨áá áĽááłááá á¨ááἠááá ááá áá¸áá áá¤áľ á¨áá፤ á ááŤá áá áááĄá á¨ááááááá áááŽá˝ áŁáá áľ áĽáá˛ááĽá á¨áááá፤ áľááá
á áá
áá á˝áááąá á ááá á¨áááá áá áŤááá á á
á áá á°á á
á á¨ááἠáá°áąá ááá°ááá፤ áŤááťáá áááŞáąá áá° áááľ áááá°áľ á¨áááá áááá áĽááłá ááááľ á áľááá áá። áá
áĽáŠá ááá áááĄá áá°ááá á¨áá˝áá áľ á°á¨á áá á¨ááľá¨áą á ááľ á á˘á
á á´á ááľáĽ áŤá áľáá
áśá˝፥ á¨á˘á
á á´á áá ááá
ááἠá á˝á á˛áłáá á¨áá አá¨ááá˛áŤ áľáá
áśá˝á á á°áá á áľáá áá°áľ áĽá á
áááľ á˛ááĽá á¨áá¨á á¨ááᥠáá ááá á¨ááá á¨á˘áľáŽáľáŤ ááἠá á¨áá°á áááľ áá á á
áŤáá áľ áá áá።
á áá áá˝
áááŚáľ á°áŁáľ á˘áľáŽáľáŤ ááľáĽ á
áἠá¨ááááá ááἠá á°ááŤá¨ ááአááᣠáĽáá°áá˝áá ááἠá¨á¨áľá ááᣠá¨á¨áľ áĽááá°á á´áááŤá˛áŤá áááĽá á á°áľáł áĽáá°áááĽá á á°á°ááá áááżá፥ áá
áĽáááłá˝áá ááááłá˝á á ááá á¨á¸á áá። á¨áá
á á°á¨á᪠á¨áĽááá°á á´áááŤá˛áŤá áľáááľ áááľá¨áľ áá á¨áá ááá á áááľ áĽááá ááἠáĽáá°áááá áá á á°á°ááá ááá˝ á áľááá። á¨áś/á á á˘áá á á
ááľá ááá¨áĽá á¨ááá¨á á¨áá á áłáŤ áá። áś/á á á˘áá á˘á
á á´á ááľáĽ á¨ááá á¨ááἠá áŤáá
áááá˝ á¨á˘áľáŽáľáŤá á
áἠáĽáŤá ááááľ á¨áááአá¨ááá ááá á áá á¨á˝ááá áá°áľ ááááá áĽáá¸áá áááá á¨ááá¨á á¨áá á áá áá˝ áááŚáľ á°áŁáľ áá
áá á¨ááἠáá°áľ áá°ááá፥ ááá¤áłáááą ááłááá። áá
á á áá˛á
á ááłá áá áá° á˛áááŤá˛áŤá áľáá áľ á¨áááľá°á á¨á˝ááá áá°áľ á°ááᎠá
ááŁá áľáá á áľá°ááá á°á¨á áá ááľá¨áą áĽáľá¨áá¨ááἠáľá¨áľ á¨á˘áľáŽáľáŤ á
áἠá¨ááá¨áá á¨ááľá
፥á¨ááťááľá á¨á˛áááŤá˛ áľáá áá ááľá áá á˘áá áĽááłáŤáá á áá áá˝ áááŚáľ á°áŁáľ á áĽáĽá
áŤáłáľáŁá።
á áá áá˝
áááŚáľ 7
áľá
áá˘áľáŽáľáŤ á
ááĽ!!!
Tuesday 20 March 2018
á¨áŚáŽá ááááľ áááŁá á áááľ á á áŁáŤ á ááááľáľ áá áĽááľ á°áááአá á
ááá
áŤá˛áŽ- á¨áŚáŽá ááááľ áááŁá áŁáááľ áááľ á á°áĄáĽ áááŤáĽ ááŤá áĽá á áááŤáĽ ááá á áŤáŁá˘áá˝ á ááááľáľ ááłá°áŽá˝ áá áĽááľ á áľááťáá á˛á á áľáłáá።
á á áľááŤ
áá ááááŤáá áŤá°á¨áá á¨áŚáŽá ááááľ áááŁá á¨ááá¨áá áŽáá´ á áŁáá á¨áá°á á ááŤá á¨áááľ á˘á ááᢠáááá á¨áŚáŽáá ááá áĽáá°á°áááŠáľ ááááľáľ á ááŤá á áŚáŽááá˝ áá áŤá°á¨á°áá áĽááľ á°á¨áľá á áááľ á á
áŁáŤ á á°á°á¨á á¨á°áᣠáĽááľ á ááááľáľ áá ááłáľ á áľáá°áá áĽááá።
á ááŤá
á¨áá áŚá´áá˝á፣ ááłá°áŤá á°á˝á¨ááŤáŞá á áá áá á áá አááłá°áŽá˝ á°á˝á¨ááŤáŞ áá á á°á°á¨á áĽááľ áá á áá ááľááľ á áľáá°áá áĽááá á˘á ááá˘።
á áááŤáĽ
ááá ááłá á ááŁá áŚáł á¨á áśáł áá° á°áᢠáśá á ááá á¨ááááľáľ ááłá°áŤá á°á˝á¨ááŤáŞáá˝ áá á á°áááá ááĽááľ á ááą á°á˝á¨ááŤáŞ áá á áá ááá á á¨áá ááľááá። áááá á¨áá አááłá°áŽá˝ áá ááłáľ á¨á°á¨á° á˛áá á ááľ á¨ááááľáľ ááłá°á áĽáť á°ááá áĽááá á ááŤáŠ።
á ááłáŠ
áá á¨áŁá˘áľáŽáľáŤ ááááľáľ á áľá°áŤá¨áľá áááááľ á°á°ááá áá¨áŤ áĽáá°ááá á¨ááááľáľ áá á ááŁáŠ áľáĽá°áŁ áá á áááá¸á ááá˝ á ááááá። ááááľáľ á á áľá፠á¨áá°áá áááá˝ á á˘áľáŽáľáŤ áá°á¨á°á°á áááľ á°á áŤá áŤá°ááá። á ááŤá áá°áááá ááľáŤá áŚááá ááłá á˘áŤ á áľáá áá
á¨áĄ ááłááá።
á áś
á˘á ááᢠáľáá
áłá¸á á ááŤá á áŤáŁá˘ ááááłááą á á˛áľ ááá á áááááá á¨á
áἠáá áá˛á
á á°ááŤáŠ á á
áŁáŤáá˝ áĽááľ á ááľá¨áľ á ááá á¤áľ á¨áá°á¨ááá á¨áŚáŽá á
áἠáľáá ááá°áá áĽá¨áá¨á¨ áááá á áľáá¨áá áłá።
á áá
áá°á°á¨á°á áľ á°á¨á á¨áá
áá°á áŚáá áŤá°á¨áá áľááá á¨á¨ááá ááľáááľááľ áá¤áľ áá áŤááľ á áś á˘á á¨áá
á á áá á¨á
ááŁá˝á áá á ááá áľááá áĽáááĽááá áĽááá።
á áłááľ
á˘áĽáł á¨áááŤáá á á áľá፠á¨áááá áŚáá áá áŚáŽááŤá á¨áááľá¨áľ á¨ááá˛áŤ áἠáŤáá á˛áá á á˘áľáŽáľáŤ á¨ááŤáá°áá á
ááŁá á°ááá áĽá¨ááŤá áŤáááľ áĽá áá á˛á á¨áá
áá°á á áľáłááá።
‘á áŤáľ áá¸á’ – á¤áááŤáľ ááá°
Ermias Legesse on the current Ethiopian political turmoil
and solutions
Saturday 17 February 2018
‘We strongly disagree’ U.S. Embassy on Ethiopia’s state of emergency
U.S. Embassy Statement on the Ethiopian Government’s
Declared State of Emergency
We strongly disagree with the Ethiopian government’s
decision to impose a state of emergency that includes restrictions on
fundamental rights such as assembly and expression.
We recognize and share concerns expressed by the government
about incidents of violence and loss of life, but firmly believe that the
answer is greater freedom, not less.
The challenges facing Ethiopia, whether to democratic
reform, economic growth, or lasting stability, are best addressed through
inclusive discourse and political processes, rather than through the imposition
of restrictions.
The declaration of a state of emergency undermines recent
positive steps toward creating a more inclusive political space, including the
release of thousands of prisoners. Restrictions on the ability of the Ethiopian
people to express themselves peacefully sends a message that they are not being
heard.
We strongly urge the government to rethink this approach and
identify other means to protect lives and property while preserving, and indeed
expanding, the space for meaningful dialogue and political participation that
can pave the way to a lasting democracy.
Wednesday 31 January 2018
Association for Human Rights Launches New Report on Human Rights in Ethiopia
Full report in PDF Ethiopia: Ailing Civic Space in an Authoritarian State.
The Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE) is
pleased to announce the launch of its new report, “Ailing Civic Space in an
Authoritarian State: The State of Human Rights Defenders and Cost of Dissent in
Ethiopia.” This report aims to provide an overview of the situation of human
rights in Ethiopia and to examine the increasingly restricted space in which
human rights defenders (HRDs) operate, with particular attention to trends that
have developed since the adoption of a series of repressive laws in 2009. While
the Ethiopian government has made considerable strides in economic development,
space for human rights dialogue has gradually disintegrated and many HRDs now
face detention, torture, and harassment, while growing numbers now choose life
in exile rather than remaining in the country.
After the highly controversial 2005 national elections, the
Ethiopian Parliament enacted legislation that dramatically narrowed space for
civil society, notably the Charities and Societies Proclamation, Mass Media
Proclamation, and the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation. These three laws have been
heavily criticised for their restrictive provisions, which limit the work of
journalists, HRDs, and civil society organisations through broad language and
severe punishments.
Over the past two years, Ethiopia has been rocked by growing
protest movements in different parts of the country, notably in the two most
populous regions of Oromia and Amhara, and to a lesser extent the Southern
Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR). Security officials
responded to these mass protests with excessive force, which resulted in the
killing of over a thousand people and the arrests of tens of thousands of
demonstrators since 2014. These actions triggered timid condemnations from
Ethiopia’s key partners and outcry from international human rights bodies. The
widespread and deadly demonstrations led the government to declare a State of
Emergency in October 2016 that lasted 10 months.
This report aims to document the deterioration of civic
space in Ethiopia and the restrictions on HRDs, activists, bloggers, and other
media professionals, which can be seen as roots of the current political
crisis. This includes actions undertaken to limit the actions of
non-governmental organisations, journalists, lawyers, and other professional and
non-professional activities that aims to further the cause of human rights. By
documenting the deteriorating human rights situation in Ethiopia, it is the
intention of AHRE to provide human rights institutions, civil society, and
concerned bodies with adequate source material to direct their efforts in
addressing the overall conditions of HRDs and work towards rebuilding and
strengthening civic space in Ethiopia. The report also features key
recommendations to the government of Ethiopia, European Union, African
Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, United Nations, donors, and allies.
Contacts:
Yared Hailemariam – Executive Director
Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE)
Phone +32 486 336367
Email: executive@ahrethio.org
https://ahrethio.org/
Tuesday 30 January 2018
á¤á˝ á á 128 ááľáá˝ á á°áŁáĽ áááἠáá
á¤á˝ á á
128 á ááŁá á¨ááłáááá á á ááŞáŤ ááá
á¤áľ á¨ááŁá
á¨áá
áá ááłá á ááá
á¤áą ááľáá˝
á á°áŁáĽ áĽáá°áááἠáłáá። áá
ááłáá ááľáá˝ á á°áŁáĽ á¨áááá á á á˘áľáŽáľáŤ áŤáá á ááá á¨á°áŁá áŠáľ ááááľáłáľ á¨á°áĽá á ááĽáľ ááááŞáá˝ á áááŞáą áĽá¨á°áá¸á áŤááá á¨á°áĽá á ááĽáľ áĽá°áľ áĽáá˛áŤáŁáŠ áĽáľá¨áááĽáá áá áľá¨áľ á¨áááá
áľ á¨áá áá።
á¨á˘áľáŽáľáŤ
á ááŞáŤááŤá á˛áŞá áŤáááľá á¨ááá˝ á¨áá
á á¨á°áĄ á°ááŤáŽá˝á áľáá
áśá˝ áá á ááá áľáááľ á¨á ááŞáŤ ááá á¤áľ á áŁááľá á¨á°áŁá áŠáľ ááááľáłáľ áľáá
áľ á¨á°áĽá á ááĽáľ áŽáá˝á á°ááŤá á á¤á˝ á á 128 áá ááłá áľááá¸áľá
á áľ ááááľ á°ááŤáá°áá።
ááááą
á á ááŞáŤ á¨á°ááŤáŽá˝ ááá á¤áľ á¨á áĽá፠ááá á áŤáá á¨áŞááĽááŤá ááᲠá᪠áŹá¨á ááŤáᲠá¨á˘áľáŽáľáŤááŤá á°ááŤáŽá˝ áá á°áááá°á áááááá á á á¨ááľ áá°á¨áľ á¨á°áŤáá° áááá ááá¨áłáľ á°á˝áá።
á ááŁáŠ
áá áááľá áĽáľá¨ á¨áŤá˛áľ 8 áľá¨áľ á á˘áľáŽáľáŤ áŤáá á ááá á¨á°áŁá áŠáľ ááááľáłáľ á áŁáŞ áĄáľá á áááŞáą ááĽáś á¨á°áá¸á á¨á°áĽá á ááĽáľ áĽá°áśá˝á áĽáá˛áŤáŁáŤ áááľ áĽáá˛á°áĽ áá áá°áĽ áááľááἠáľááááľ áá áá°á¨áąá á¨ááááą á°áłáłááá˝ á¨ááá áá˝ áá áŁá°á¨ááľ áá ááááľ á°ááá¨áá።
á ááá
ááá
á¨ááá°áŁá á á¨áá áá á¤á˝ á á 128 á ááŁá á¨ááłáááá á á˘áľáŽáľáŤ á¨á°áĽá á ááĽáľ áĽáá˛á¨á áá á¨ááĽáľ áĽá°áľ á¨áá¸ááľá á áá á°á áŤá á¨ááŤá°ááá áá á á ááŞáŤ ááá á¤áľ áĽáá˛á¸áľá
áĽáá°áá°á¨á áááá
á°á˝áá።
á¨áá
ááłáá áá á ááá
á¨áááľ á¨ááá á¤áąá á¨á᪠ááłá áŽáá´ á áŁá ááŞáľ áľáá á¨á°áŁá áŠáľ ááááľáłáľ ááááŞáá˝ áá ááá á áááá áľ áŚáł á°áááłá
á°á á¨á°áá¸ááľá á¨á°áĽá á ááĽáľ áĽá°áśá˝ áĽáá˛áŤáŁáŠ á ááá á¨áááá
áľ á¨áá áá á á áľá¸áłá áá¸áľáá áĽááá።
áá
á
áĽáť áłááá ááŞáľ áľáá áĽááłááľ á ááĽáľ áĽá°áą á°áłáłá á¨áá ááá°áŚá˝á á á áá á áá ááááľáľáŞ á¨á°áĽá á ááĽáľ áá áá°á¨áľ á áá áĽáá˛á á¨á áĽáá°áá°á¨á á áľáłáááá።
ááá
á¨ááá á¤áľ á áŁá ááá áŽááá áĽááłááľ á°áá á ááŞáŤ áá¨á
á áá á¨á ááá áá áááľá á¨á¸áĽáł áľáĽáĽá á°á ἠá ááľá¨á áĽá¨á°áá¸á áŤá á¨á°áĽá á ááĽáľ áĽá°áśá˝á á˝á áľáľá ááá¨áˇ á ááŁáĽ áĽááłááá á á°ááá¨áá።
á ááá
áááĄá áĽáŤá¸á ᨠá ááŞáŤ áľáĽáĽáŻá ááá á á ááŁáĽ á áá°áá á˛á á°á°áá áá።
á á˘áľáŽáľáŤ
á ááŞáŤááŤá á˛áŞá áŤáááľá á°ááŤá á˛áŤáá áŽá´á á°á᪠á á áŠáá¸á á ááááą áá
áľ á ááá á¤áą á¨á áĽá፠ááá á áŤáá á¨áŞááĽááŤá ááᲠá᪠áŹá¨á ááŤáᲠáĽáá°á°ááá áĽáłá¸áá á á˘áľáŽáľáŤ áŤááá á¨ááĽáľ á¨áᣠá á
áἠáĽáá°áá¨áłá°ááľ ááá¸ááá¸áá።
áŹá¨á
ááŤáᲠááá á¨ááľáá ááááľ áĽáá°ááá¸á ááá áĽáá á ááá á ááľ áĽáľá áĽáá˛á°á á áĽáá°áááá á°ááá¨áá áĽááá።
á áá
á
áá°á¨áľ á¨á°áŁá áŠáľ ááááľáłáľ áľáá
áľ ááááŞáá˝ áááľ á¨ááŤáá á¨áá ááá á°ááŁáŤá áááľá¨á áľááááľ áá á°á°ááˇá áĽááá።